Power-operated nut setter



May 16, 1950 E. H. sHAFF POWER OPERATED NUT SETTER Filed Dec. 2, 1947 mnwm Qu. .m in.

Tnet @sm o@ mm mw Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED POWER-OPERTED NUT SETTER Ernest H. Shaff, Spring Lake, Mich., assigner to Keller Tool Company, Grand Haven, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application December 2, 1947, Serial No. 789,278

(Cl. Eil-54) 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to portable power operated tools and more particularly to power operated nut setters of the type adapted for actuation by pressure fluid.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a pressure fluid operated nut setter of a practical character facilitating the application of nuts and including suction operated means for picking up and retaining a nut for application to a threaded element such as a bolt.

More specifically, it is an object of the inven tion to provide a finder for a pressure fluid operated nut setter having a recess therein to receive a nut to be driven and suction operated means for seizing and holding the nut by applying suction around its outer edge.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal section of a nut setter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a `fragmentary longitudinal section of the tool illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the relationship of the components thereof when the tool is operated.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially in the plane of line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the driven shaft and the socket adaptor of the tool and showing the driven clutch member in longitudinal section.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken substantially in the plane of line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

While the invention is susceptible of various modications and alternative constructions, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed, but it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

As illustrated in the drawings the exemplary form of the invention is shown embodied in a portable pressure uid actuated tool comprising an elongated, generally cylindrical main casing having a rotary pneumatic motor 9 therein for driving a shaft I through the medium of a clutch device I I. As shown, the forward end of the shaft I0 is constructed for driving engagement with ga finder I2. The latter includes an adaptor I3, a driver I4 and a socket l5.

The motor 9 comprises a casing formed by a sleeve I6 and end plates I'I and I8, and a radially slidable vane type rotor I9 eccentrically disposed within the sleeve I6. The rotor I9 is mounted on a tubular spindle 20 extending axially therethrough and projecting through the end plates I'I and i8 where it is supported in bearings 20a and Eiib. The motor 9 is positioned in the casing 8 in spaced relation to the front end thereof so as to provide a chamber 2! for the clutch device II.

Adjacent the rear end of the tool are disposed valve mechanisms including a throttle valve 22 for the control of the admission of pressure fluid to actuate the tool. Pressure fluid is supplied to the tool from any suitable source (not shown) where it is received in a supply chamber 23 defined by an axially extending bore 24 in the casing 3. The throttle valve 22 is of the poppet type and is disposed in the forward end of the bore 2li. It includes a sleeve 25 closely fitted in the bore 2li, and a plunger 2S shiftable axially within the sleeve 25. Upon opening the valve 22 pressure fluid is admitted to drive the rotor I9, by Way of ports 27 and an annular channel 28 in the sleeve 22, an inlet passage 29 in the motor casing 8, and an inlet port Si! in the end plate I1.

Spent pressure fluid is exhausted from the motor casing through an exhaust port 3l in the end plate I7 and thence through an axially extending passage 32 to an exhaust chamber 33 and nally through ports 3 to the atmosphere.

The driven shaft Ill is journalled in the Iforward end of the motor casing 8. Herein, the shaft lll is also of tubular construction and is disposed in axial alignment with the tubular rotor spindle 20. The outer end of the shaft Il! is fashioned for driving connection with the driver lil as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

The clutch II is of the type that permits a hammering action to obtain whereby a nut can be set to a greater degree of tightness than that which the torque of the motor S alone could produce. As shown, the clutch II includes an upper clutch block 35 made integral with the rotor spindle 2li and having teeth 35a extending forwardly therefrom, and a lower clutch block 38 operatively associated with the driven shaft ID of the tool and having teeth 36a. projecting rearwardly therefrom. In the present instance, the clutch block (it is disposed in coaxial relation on the shaft lil. To prevent relative rotation and to permit relative axial movement between the clutch block 35i and the shaft Il), the latter, adjacent its rear end, is made of hexagonal crosssection and is received in a correspondingly fashioned bore within the block 36 (Fig. 4). To urge the block 36 toward the upper clutch block 35 a spring 31 is interposed between the forward end of the block 36 and a collar 38 on the shaft I0. Rearward movement of the block 36 on the shaft I is limited by abutment of a shoulder 39 on the block 36 with a correspondingly shaped collar 46 adjacent the rear end of the shaft IIJ. Interposed between the upper clutch block and the shaft I0 is a spring 4I normally urging the two apart.

The driver I4 of the finder I2 is of cylindrical form having its outer end screw-threaded to receive thereon the socket I5. Adjacent its outer end it is journaled in the adaptor I3 which forms a guide therefor, and is arrangedl for axial movement therein. A peripheral flange 43 is provided intermediate the ends of the driver I4 which is received in a counterbore 42 in the adaptor I3, and it serves to limit outward axial movement of the driver I4. Rearwardly of the flange 43 the driver I4 is cut away to form an axially extending, at driving tang 44. Adjacent its outer end, the tang 44 is disposed diametrically of a chamber Ilia dened by a counterbore in the outer end of the shaft I6 and is received in an axially disposed slot in the end of the shaft i2, thus affording driving connection between the shaft and the driver.

Pressure exerted by the operator on the tool to hold it against the work is transmitted by way of the finder I3 and the shaft I El to overcome the action of the spring 4I and force the lower clutch block 36 into engagement with the upper clutch block 35 so that the former will be driven. The teeth 35a and 36a on the clutch blocks are provided with inclined faces (Figs. 3 and 4). Thus when the nut being set becomes tight on its bolt, teeth 35a will ride up on teeth 36a and force the lower clutch block 36 outwardly against the action of the spring 31. When the teeth 35a pass over the teeth 36a the spring 31 will urge the block 36 rearwardly until the teeth strike and the action is repeated. Thus a hammering effect obtains which will set the nut to a greater degree of tightness than would be had from the torque of the motor alone.

The valve 22 is also operated in response to force exerted on the tool by the operator. For this purpose I employ a rigid rod 46 which extends longitudinally through the tubular rotor spindle 20 and the hollow shaft I8. One end of the rod 45 is preferably fixed to the stem of the valve 22, and its other end is adapted for engagement by the rear end of the driver I4. To this end, the driver i4 is provided with a relatively narrow projection 41 which extends into the counterbore ma in the hollow shaft IU. The slot 45 is of suicient depth so that a substantial amount of rearward axial movement of the tang therein is permitted prior to its engagement with the bottom of the slot. Thus as the tool is pressed against the work and the adaptor moves rearwardly relative to the shaft I3, the projection 41 engages the end of the rod 46 and moves it rearwardly, axially of the shaft I and spindle 2G, opening the valve 22 to admit pressure fiuid to actuate the motor 9. Further rearward movement of the adaptor causes the end of the tang lid to engage the bottom of the slot 45. As such movement continues the shaft i6 is moved rearwardly and the lower clutch block 35 thereon is brought into engagement with the upper clutch block 35 which is now rotating at high speed.

Conversely, as the tool is withdrawn from the work the spring 4I urges the shaft I0 and the block 36 forwardly out of engagement with the block 35, and pressure fluid acting on the head of the valve 22 again seats it against the sleeve 5 25 interrupting the supply of pressure fluid to the motor 9.

To produce a suction effect whereby a nut may .be picked up and held for application to the work, any form of suction device may be used. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention a suction device is used which is of the type described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 719,803, led January 2, 1947, to which this application is subordinate.

In general, when the tool is in operation air discharged through a jet nozzle 50 (Fig. 1) is utilized to produce a suction effect which is transmitted by way of the tubular spmdle 2U and hollow shaft I0 and the driver I4 to the socket I5. As shown, the nozzle 50 opens into a passageway 5I extending longitudinally of the rear end of the casing 8 and in communication with the motor` exhaust chamber 33. Discharge of air through the passage 5I causes air to be sucked by Venturi action through a passage 52 having one end in communication with a chamber 53 surrounding the nozzle 50. The other end of the passage 52 communicates with a chamber 54 formed in the casingBV adjacent the rear end of the hollow rotor spindle 2.0.

Air is supplied to the nozzle 50 from the inlet chamber 23 under the control of a needle valve 55. The latter includes a valve plunger 56 shiftable axially in a transverse bore 51 adjacent the rear end of the casing 8 under the control of a manually operable ring 58 encircling the casing. The ring 58 has a flattened chord section 59 providing a cam surface for engagement with the exposed outer end of the valve plunger 5I. To open the valve 50 the ring 52 is rotated to permit the plunger 56 to be moved by the force of the pressure fluid in the chamber 23 radially outwardly of the Casing 8 against the circular 45 surface of the ring. To close the valve the ring 53 is rotated to move the flattened cam surface 59 into engagement with the end of the plunger 56 to force the latter radially inwardly into the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The suction effect thus created and transmitted by way of the tubular spindle 20 and the hollow shaft I0 is transmitted to the finder socket I5 to pick up and hold a nut for application to the work. To this end, I utilize the bore 42 in the adaptor I3 to provide communication between the hollow shaft I3 and the novel finder I2. Also, the driver I4 of the finder l2 is provided with an axial passage 65 and interconnecting diagonal passages v6I to transmit the suc- 60 tion effect tothe finder socket I5.

Of primary importance is the construction of the socket I5 whereby a nut is picked up and held 'therein by suction around its outer edge. As shown, the socket has a bore extending 65 axially therethrough the rear end of which is enlarged to receive the driver I4 and into which the passage 6D in the latter opens. The forward end of the bore 6-5 is fashioned to form a recess 65 of a shape to receive the nut. Immediately adjacent the recess 65, the bore 65 is enlarged to provide a suction distributing channel 61. To transmit the suction effect from the rear end of the bore 65 to the channel 61, a serrated insert 68 is tted in the bore. The insert 68 provides a peripherally arranged series of longitudinally extending grooves 69 the rear ends of which open into the bore t adjacent the passage @l in the driver I4, and their forward ends open into the channel 6l. When a nut is drawn into the recess E6 it is held against the outer end of the insert G3 thus minimizing the fdow of air through the hole in the nut, and the nut is retained by suction around its outer edges. An axial bore 10 is provided in the insert 58 to accommodate the protruding end of the bolt on which the nut is to be set.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a portable pressure fluid operated nut setter having a motor, a shaft driven by the motor and means producing a suction eect, a finder comprising a driver having driving connection with said shaft and having a passage therethrough communicating with said suction producing means, and a socket supported by said driver and having a bore therethrough the outer end of which is fashioned to provide a recess to receive a nut, said bore being enlarged adjacent said recess to provide a suction distributing channel, an insert disposed intermediate the ends of said bore and having grooves therein defining passages affording communication between said driver passage and said channel so that a nut can be picked up and held in said recess against said insert by suction around the outer edge of the nut, said insert being operative to minimize the flow of air through the hole in the nut.

2. In a portable pressure fluid operated nut setter having a motor, the combination comprising a tubular spindle driven by said motor, a hollow shaft, means producing a suction effect, a finder including a driver operatively associated with said shaft and having a passage therethrough communicating with said hollow shaft and said tubular spindle, and a socket having a bore extending axially therethrough, one end of said socket bore being fashioned to receive said driver and the other end of said bore being fashioned to provide a recess to receive a nut, a serrated insert providing a peripherally arranged series of longitudinally extending grooves disposed in said socket bore intermediate its ends, said grooves and the wall of said bore defining passages communicating with said driver passage, said suction effect being transmitted through said spindle shaft and said passages to the outer end of said socket bore whereby a nut can be seized and held for application to the work.

3. In a portable pressure uid operated nut setter having a motor, the combination comprising a tubular spindle driven by said motor, a hollow shaft, means producing a suction effect, and a finder including a driver operatively associated with said shaft and having a passage therethrough communicating with said hollow shaft and said tubular spindle, and a socket having a. bore extending axially therethrough and a suction distributing channel adjacent the outer end of the bore, the inner end of said socket bore being fashioned to receive said driver and the outer end thereof being fashioned to provide a recess shaped to receive a nut, a serrated insert providing a peripherally arranged series of longitudinally extending grooves disposed in said socket bore intermediate its ends, said grooves and the wall of said socket bore defining passages communicating with said driver passage and said channel, said suction effect being transmitted through said spindle, shaft and passages to the socket recess for application to a nut to pick up and hold the same against the outer end of said insert for application to a screw, said insert having an axially disposed bore therein for the reception of the protruding end of the screw, the inner end of said insert bore being closed to minimize the flow of air through the hole in the nut so that it is held by suction around its outer edges.

4. A finder for a pneumatically operated nut running tool having a casing, a motor driven shaft providing an air passage, and suction producing means for applying suction to said passage, said nder comprising an adaptor removably mounted on the casing and providing a chamber communicating with said shaft passage, a driver slidable axially of the adaptor and interengageable with the shaft for rotation thereby, and a socket member mounted on the driver and having a nut receiving recess therein, said driver and socket member having passages for transmitting to the peripheral portion of a nut in said recess the suction applied to said adaptor chamber.

5. A finder for a pneumatically operated nut running tool having a casing, a motor driven shaft having a slot in its outer end and providing an air passage, and suction producing means for applying suction to said passage, said finder comprising an adaptor removably mounted on the casing and providing a chamber communicating with said shaft passage, a driver slidable axially of the adaptor and having a driving tang on one end thereof received in said shaft slot for rotation thereby and a socket member mounted on the driver and having a nut receiving recess therein, said driver and socket member having passages for transmitting to the peripheral portion of a nut in said recess the suction applied to said adaptor chamber.

ERNEST H. SHAFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the -lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,748,961 Risser Mar. 4, 1930 1,824,399 Graious Sept. 22, 1931 1,913,003 lShai June 6, 1933 2,099,280 Shaft Nov. 16, 1937 2,261,204 Amtsberg Nov. 4, 1941 2,272,279 Schindel Feb. 10, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 172,443 Switzerland Jan. 2, 1935 429,016 Great Britain May 23. 1935 

